Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am going to sell my bridge pup assembly from my 1993 4003s bass. It reads 13.4K. Were there any magic or sweet years for pups? If so, I'd consider tossing it in my 2009 4003 and sell the newer pup instead, or is a hi-gain just another hi-gain? (I never really use the adjustable pole pieces on the newer one.)

coolhandjjl wrote:I am going to sell my bridge pup assembly from my 1993 4003s bass. It reads 13.4K. Were there any magic or sweet years for pups? If so, I'd consider tossing it in my 2009 4003 and sell the newer pup instead, or is a hi-gain just another hi-gain? (I never really use the adjustable pole pieces on the newer one.)

the pickups aren't the magic...it's the wood and the impedance match that brings the mojo

If you haven't played with the adjustable poles you don't know how awesome they are. They can radically change how the bass sounds with some tweaking... from sweet and smooth to a sound so aggressive I find it awkward and unusable (but I know others would love it).

I've played Hi-Gains from three different eras (1970s, 1990s, and present) and I think the newest ones sound the best.

cassius987 wrote:If you haven't played with the adjustable poles you don't know how awesome they are. They can radically change how the bass sounds with some tweaking... from sweet and smooth to a sound so aggressive I find it awkward and unusable (but I know others would love it).

I've played Hi-Gains from three different eras (1970s, 1990s, and present) and I think the newest ones sound the best.

I have to agree with pretty much all of the above! The adjustable poles really made it "complete" to me. I ousted a RIHS when I got a '06 adjustable pole high gain.

it sounds like your 90's model pickup is pretty hot,which is the norm for current pickups like the rihs and higains,some people (myself being one of them) actually prefer the older lower-output pickups,because they tend have more clarity. i had a perfect demonstration of the differences in the sound when i saw Chris use his new custom "fish"4003 bass in concert for 2 songs,the sound was much less distinct than when he was using his old RM. i had a '90 v63 for about 6 monthes,compared to my 74 4000 and 04 cii,one of which i was prepared to sell to fund the V's purchase,i thought the hotter pickups in the v sounded somewhat like what i had with the cii,and that the old higain had the most clear sound of the 3,so the v ended up being resold. (in the end,i preferred the cii to the v63 overall)

You'll probably get almost as many different answers to that question as you get replies.

I've owned or played 4001/4003/V63/C64's from 1963 to 2008.

I like my late 80's pickups. I think they're wound to a little under 9K. Loud and full, but still clear.

From 1984-86, the 4001V63 horseshoe was charged (did I say that right?) by it's magnets. I'd think that's pretty good for the RIHS, anyway

JakeK wrote:From 1984-86, the 4001V63 horseshoe was charged (did I say that right?) by it's magnets. I'd think that's pretty good for the RIHS, anyway

We've only seen one or two of these early V63s, and they had the magnetic shoes on the bridge pickup. When these ran out the RIHS non-magnetic shoes came into the game.

I agree the 8.4k higains, for me, sound the best and clearest. They have most of the clarity of the 7.4k Toasters and a bit more gain. Nice balance between clarity, harmonics, and thus tone. The new higains (11.6-13k) for me are too muddied sounding. Aggressive yes, louder yes, but not as good for pitch (note) delineation and tone, again for me.

I have been very tempted to unwind the pickups in one of my V63 basses, but for the investment involved, that would be very costly. So I haven't.

Many RIC players would say 'mid-70's'.

johnnysain wrote:Many RIC players would say 'mid-70's'.

And I'd be one.

These are magic...

...yeah, 100+!!! They have the most growl and bite but do not neglect the pound of bass!

Approx what year did the slotted pole pieces go away?

early 70's ones sounds great

gearhed289 wrote:Approx what year did the slotted pole pieces go away?

Mid '73'ish, I believe.

I have a '73 bridge hi-gain that I had Jason Lollar rewind to 8.5K. that comcined with the larger '73 magnet is awesome!

How does the new adjustable pole hi-gain compare to the HS's?